Virudhunagar (Tamil Nadu), Feb 17 (UNI) Ten labourers, including four women, were killed and four others grievously injured in a major inferno that swept through a private fireworks factory at Kundayiruppu village in Vembakottai block in Virudhunagar district on Saturday.
Police said the fire broke out at Winner Fireworks Factory, this afternoon leading to a series of explosions, when the labourers were engaged in making fancy variety crackers.
The fire and explosions razed down four warehouses, where a huge stock of finished crackers and highly inflammable chemicals were stored.
Preliminary investigations revealed that friction while handling the chemicals was the reason for the fire tragedy.
The bodies were charred and mutilated due to the impact of the explosion.
Fire tenders from Sattur, Vembakottai and Sivakasi rushed to the factory and extinguished the blaze after a couple of hours of battle.
The injured were admitted to the government hospitals at Sattur and Sivakasi.
Senior police and revenue officials rushed to the factory and supervised the rescue operations.
The police have registered a case and are investigating to ascertain if there were any violations of safety norms.
TN Chief Minister M.K.Stalin condoled the death of 10 persons in the fire tragedy and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 3 lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs one lakh to the seriously injured persons.
